Last season's high class novice hurdler Easywork made a winning chase debut at Navan today as the Gordon Elliott trained, Gigginstown House Stud owned gelding landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase under jockey Sean Flanagan.

The son of Network finished second in two Grade 1 hurdles, notably when second to Envoi Allen in the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, on his previous two runs before lockdown and today reappeared in fine fettle when beating Gigginstown's Joseph O'Brien trained Embittered into second.

Following the race Easywork's trainer Elliott reported “I thought it was a good performance. He said he hurdled the second a bit but was foot perfect after.

“He's having a good blow and I think he'll be better when he steps up in trip. I was happy.

“He's in the Drinmore but I don't know if that will come a bit too soon. We might find something a bit smaller first and then we could look at Christmas for a Grade 1.

“He'll come on plenty from that and I think the further he goes the better he'll be as well.”

Easywork's jockey Flanagan was completing a double on the day to bring him level with Rachael Blackmore at the head of the Jockeys' Championship on 44 winners each. Blackmore, rider of runner-up Embittered, herself endured a frustrating day, having clocked up five second-place finishes.

Quotes from Gary Carson